'Is there something wrong?' she said. 'Of course there is'...

Ok, so first things first, I took part in an RSPB working party on one of the local reserves the other day, it's not something I did out of any great moral volition or ornithological interest, but rather out of a desire to get out of the house and take some exercise. Anyway, you can see what we got up to here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/broadwaterwarren/blog/archive/2011/01/05/volunteers-help-reveal-the-history-of-the-reserve.aspx (see if you can spot me) and please do feel free to take part in any way you can. I know it will be appreciated.


Second, I ordered two pairs of espadrilles yesterday! One in red and white butcher's stripes and one 'natural' beige and thin black stripes. I'm probably more excited than I ought to be to try them on. Also, I bought the new GQ today, complete with Best Dressed Men List, which I will be discussing at greater length later (don't worry, I'm not going to dissect every entry, just a choice selection). Also, for those of you familiar with The Sartorialist, he has recently been the subject of a beautiful little documentary that you can find on his blog: thesartorialist.blogspot.com (highly likely to be the most linked website on my blog). A short film that I think really shows a. why what he does is both interesting and valuable and b. why he is so successful at what he does.

I'm reading a fascinating book called 'Watching the English' by Kate Fox. It's a rather humorous observation on various anthropological and sociological traits of the English character. It's well written, funny and wonderfully perceptive, I recommend it.

I'm listen, as we speak, to Ali Akbar Khan's epic, 80 Minute Raga. An extraordinary recording and one I would highly recommend for anyone vaguely interested in 'world' music (a term I dislike intensely, but one that will have to suffice for now) and/or just seeing how long you can sit listening to one piece of music. Something I find myself doing perhaps a little too often. This piece of incredible folk music was a favourite among the more worldly aware hippies during the '60s and one can easily see why. Images of Lennon, Gerry Garcia and sundry others sat around getting high to it are very easy to imagine.  Also, in more contemporary news, I discovered last night in the minutes before I went to bed a collaboration between Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and the Dharohar Project that is really quite something. The mixture of sitar, banjo, two different types of folk music and the exquisite voices of Laura Marling and the chaps from Mumford & Sons is a sound that has to be heard. Just one other musical thing, I have been listening to an awful lot of Pearl Jam recently. Particularly the Lost Dogs b-sides and rarities collection, which I love, especially for Yellow Ledbetter, both one of the first Pearl Jam songs I heard and one of my favourites, along with Alive. Anyway, if you are not familiar, familiarise yourself this instant!

 I am well fed and well watered and with that I shall bid you, dear readers, a fond adieu!

Joe